Hybridisation Doubt: When Does it Take Place and When Not?

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SUMMARY

Hybridization in BF3 involves the boron atom utilizing sp2 hybridization while the fluorine atoms retain their standard orbital configuration without hybridization. Fluorine, despite having three lone pairs and one bond pair, does not undergo sp3 hybridization as it does not affect the molecular geometry of BF3. The arrangement of orbitals in fluorine remains in its standard 1s and 3p configuration, emphasizing that hybridization is a mathematical approximation rather than a strict rule governing molecular structure.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of molecular geometry and VSEPR theory
  • Knowledge of atomic orbitals and their configurations
  • Familiarity with hybridization concepts in chemistry
  • Basic grasp of bonding theories, including sigma and pi bonds
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of hybridization in more complex molecules
  • Study the implications of lone pairs on molecular geometry
  • Explore the differences between sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridization
  • Learn about the limitations of hybridization as a model in molecular chemistry
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Chemistry students, educators, and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of molecular structure and hybridization concepts.

Vatsal Goyal
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There is an example given in my textbook showing the structure of BF3. In it, they have hybridised the orbitals of B to sp2, but not of F. It's written sp2-p overlapping. Why isn't flourine also hybridised, seeing it has 3 lone pairs and 1 bond pair, it could have sp3 hybridisation? Also, in general when does hybridisation take place and when does it not?
 
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Vatsal Goyal said:
Why isn't flourine also hybridised, seeing it has 3 lone pairs and 1 bond pair, it could have sp3 hybridisation?

Would it change the final geometry of the molecule?
 
No, I don't think it would. Is that somehow related to the answer?
 
Then it doesn't matter.
 
Borek said:
Then it doesn't matter.
I don't get it, how would the orbitals be arranged in fluorine then?
 
It doesn't matter for the shape of the molecule - you can assume there is no hybridization and orbitals in fluorine are in their standard one s and three p arrangement.

Please remember hybridization is largely a mathematical concept that helps understand what is going on, but is only an approximation of reality.
 

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